Method of making bearings



y 23, 1929- J. G. AYERS, JR 3 1,7R5268 METHOD OF MAKING BEARINGS I Filed April 1927 //v VENTO/E, JOSEPH fiYEQS /Q A H/s AT ogZ E Patented May 28, 1929.

barren smrrs PATENT orries.

.J'OSEPH G. AYERS, JR., 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COBIfOBATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD or MAKING- zananmes.

Application filed April 1',

mgs, it is hardened by heat treatment and quenched. Such a piece is so apt to go out of round,-even with the use of a quenching fixture and clamp to hold it, that it must be subsequently ground and this may increase the cost to an extent making only a little saving over the cost of a continuous or unspht, ring, which is better. a A H An object of the invention, accordingly, is-to provide an improved method of making split race rings of a quality acceptable for use in modern roller bearings.

To these ends and to improve upon methods of the character indicated, the invention also consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. v

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the strip material, broken lines indicating a blank to be cut from the strip. v

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank.

Figures 3 and 4 are side views indicating a blank being rolled into the form of a ring;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the com pleted ring.

A strip 4 of cold rolled steel is first heat treatedand quenched in oil in the flat condition whereby distortion is avoided or minimized. A suitable heat for carbon-vanadium steel containing .55 to .65% C and 05% or more vanadium is 1550 F. The strip is then too hard to roll into a sleeve so the physical properties are modified. This is satisfactorily done by packing in carbona ceous material, bringing the strip slowly to a temperature of 900 to 1100 F. and maintaining the heat about one'hour. This produces a homogeneous and uniform grain 1927. Serial no. memo.

structure and a smooth surface suitable for a race ring. The strip has a much more homogeneous structure than cold rolled steel and is harder but nevert-helesslc'an be rolled.

The blank 6 to be rolled preferably has one end 8 of V-shape and the, other end 10 of corresponding shape so that, when rolled, a socal ed fish tail joint is formed. The blank 'is also provided with holes 9 which become oil holes in the assembled bearin If the cut blanks are heat treated individually in the flat condition,.as may be done, the holes 9 serve as a convenient means to support the blanks on pins for quenching. The pointed end 8 is, .bent a little to facilitate the presentation of the piece to the rollers of any suit: able rolling apparatus. In the illustrated apparatus, rollcrs12, 14 and 16 are mounted to rotate on parallel axes, the roller 12 turning clockwise and the other rollers turning counterclockwise. The piece is rolled into the form of a ring which is removed from the roller 12 by axial movement,the roller having at one end a suitably movable bearing support. The rollingoperation tends to iron out any distortion that may have occurred in the treatment of the flat piece. A further burnishing operation may be. given, if desired, but the ring is so nearly round and so- In testimony whereof hereunto aflix my signature.

, JOSEPH G. AYERS, JR. 

